Fleckney and Kibworth Runners

THE second annual “Magic Miles” promoted by Fleckney & Kibworth Running Club took place on Wednesday 1st July in hot and sultry conditions at Fleckney recreation ground.

The race evening was again forming the centrepiece of the week long “Fleckneyfest” and thus was highly slanted towards athletes young and not so young within the local communities rather than going down the open invitation basis. This in no way detracted from the quality on display however as the area has long been synominous with a production line of talented runners.

In the primary school age group there was a titantic battle between Elise Tear of Kibworth and Teagan Allen of Fleckney which was finally decided within the last 100 metres as the in form Tear powered home in 6:49 with long time leader Allen second in 6:51, third place was filled by debutant Grace Grimmett in 7:49.

The corresponding primary school boys race featured a repeat victory for Josh Knight, the Leicester City academy starlet posting 6:12 followed in close order by Bryn Williams in 6:15 before a gap to Oscar Trier in 06:29. Taking an impressive fourth place was Leicestershire Schools cross country champion at Year 3 Harry Allen who returned 6:33 and who was conceding two and even three years to some of his peers

In the following combined boys & girls school year 7 and 8 race there was an impressive 5:50 winning time for rising year 7 prospect Dan Belton who had a margin of eight seconds on Inter Counties cross country representative and recent winner of the Arnesby junior cross country event Luke Mathers in 5:58, stopping the clock on exactly 6:00 was the fast finishing Jack Williams. In the girls section Ella Voss was another repeat winner in 7:10 from Shaskia Sneath in 7:39.

The senior ladies race was captured by triathlete Rachael Campbell in 6:24 followed by defending champion Lorna Waters in 6:32 and Anne Ghillespy in 8:19.

The senior men’s mile atracted an interesting and mixed field with defending champion Stefan Ashman ranged against familiar opposition from the 2008 race including Leicester Running Shop proprietor Rob Pullen as well as ex Leicester City hero Muzzy Izzet and Leicester Tigers Guinness Premiership Coach of The Year Richard Cockerill whose wife Sarah and son Stan are both club members. One athlete who pushed Ashman hard last year was Karl Beardall who has risen to 4th in the overall LRRL winter rankings this campaign but was missing this year due to a persistant linjury issue. This left Ashman with the task of cutting out all of his own pace as the sweltering conditions showed little sign of abating.

Keen to better his winning time of 5:16 in the 2008 race Ashman timed it to perfection to stop the clock at 5:15 and will be content after familiarising himself with Fleckney’s seasonal track in recent weeks.

The evening’s grand finale was yet to come howver as athletes and sporting celebrities were wheeled out again for the traditiional closing event the 4 x 400 metres relay which saw a Fleckney & Kibworth ladies squad augmented by The Leicestershire AAA Ladies 100 and 200 metres champion Hannah Ingram take on a “Young Guns” squad of Ashman, Luke Mathers, Chris Parkes Bowen and Jack Williams as well a Fleckney men’s team of Izzet, Cockerill, club captain Stacey Voss and John Redfearn pitched against defending champions Kibworth who included Pullen as well another Leicester City legend in Steve Welsh who was a surprise bonus guest when he arrived with Izzet and then the squad completed by Vince Brown and Ant Grimmett.

The story of the race was a run away revenge victory for Fleckney with Cockerill putting in a powerful opening leg which was more than consolidated by Redfearn and Voss. This left Izzet to round off victory in a total time of 4:32 and show all present that he is more than ready to make his debut for Leicester City Masters in their forthcoming closed season tournaments.
Leading Results:
Primary School Girls 1st Elise Tear (Y5) 6:49, 2nd Teagan Allen (Y6) 6:51, 3rd Grace Grimmett (Y6) 7:49,
Primary School Boys 1st Josh Knight (Y6) 6:12, 2nd Bryn Williams (Y5) 6:15 3rd Oscar Trier (Y5) 6:29, 4th Harry Allen (Y3) 6:33,
School Years 7 & 8 Mixed 1st Boy Dan Belton (Y7) 5:50, 2nd (Y8) Luke Mathers 5:58, 3rd (Y8) Jack Williams (Y8) 6:00 1st Girl Ella Voss (Y8) 7:10 2nd Saskia Sneath (Y8) 7:39
Senior Ladies 1st Rachael Campbell 6:24, 2nd Lorna Waters 6:32, 3rd Ann Ghilespy 8:19
Senior Men 1st Stefan Ashman 5:15, 2nd Rob Pullen 5:49 3rd Muzzy Izzet 5:55

At the following prize giving race director and head coach of Fleckney & Kibworth Dave Wheeler used the occasion to deliver a withering attack on education authorities at national level who he deemed had “turned their back on tried and methods”

Expanding on what he saw as the juxta position of progressive athletics and running clubs as opposed to the UK schools authorities he bemoaned the failure to build on the golden generations that produced names such as Ovett, Coe, Gunnell and Thompson and had seen instead the misguided preoccupation with participation over competition which had left quality marginalised.

He continued “This said of course participation and access to all is vitally important in terms of raising the overall national level of health and fighting the obesity epidemic , likewise it would be folly to overlook the selfless sacrifice of local teachers who willingly give of their own time trying their level best to do the “right thing.”

However the overall drift coming down from central government has been to the detriment of nuturing elite talent and by not pushing the boundaries of competiive sport equates to turning one’s back to the tried and trusted methods that made us a powehouse in global track & field”